Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 43: Fierce Battle

If it can be resolved peacefully, some price is worth paying, since the talismans, thunder beads, and other spiritual items consumed in a battle between the two sides are of considerable value.

"Pah! Do you really think you can just treat us like beggars? Since you're unwilling to lend us two hundred spirit stones, then prepare to offer all the spirit items in your storage bag to Grandpa."

Upon hearing this, the monk in the black robe suddenly became enraged and began to hurl insults.

"Azure Water Sword, Slash!"

Seeing that there was no possibility of reconciliation between the two sides, Tong Bingfeng naturally took the initiative to strike first. The magic weapon in his storage bag transformed into a light blue sword light, shooting out streaks of blue sword light that slashed straight at the robbers.

He was originally a poor, rogue cultivator. The spiritual items in his storage bag were all accumulated from his battles with the monsters of the Ice Domain. They were the foundation of his cultivation for the foreseeable future, so how could he give them up so easily?

"The Heaven-Opening Axe, cleave!"

Having chosen to be a robber, he naturally possessed corresponding countermeasures. A small, exquisite, earthen-yellow axe descended from the sky, carrying immense force as it hurtled straight toward the Azure Water Sword.

The two items are both mid-grade first-tier magic artifacts, only with different attributes. Their encounter is a match of equals, and for a time, it is impossible to determine a winner.

"Clang, clang, clang"

In an instant, the two magical artifacts collided several times in the air, and a series of crisp sounds spread rapidly in all directions.

The Azure Water Sword excels in its lightness and agility. Before each direct confrontation, it will first unleash streaks of azure sword light, which will collide with the Heaven-Opening Axe in an attempt to weaken it to some extent.

As a genuine earth-attribute magical weapon, the Heaven-Opening Axe's fundamental advantage lies in its immense power and weight. In every clash, it can gain a certain advantage, and this advantage is constantly accumulating. Once a certain balance is broken, victory can be achieved.

"Water Blade Slash, go!"

Tong Bingfeng naturally wouldn't stand idly by and watch his magical artifact fall. He circulated his magical power in his dantian, and a series of smooth and sharp water blades quickly formed on his left hand. With a slight pull, he threw them out, and they transformed into formidable attacks, heading straight for the black-robed cultivator.

Water Blade Slash is the only mid-grade first-tier spell that Tong Bingfeng has mastered and can successfully use at this stage. After special practice, he is now quite proficient in it.

One after another, water blades flashed with a cold light, transforming into streaks of light that formed a triangular pattern and headed straight for the black-robed cultivator—a true example of a siege of Wei to rescue Zhao.

By using the Water Blade Slash attack, the opponent is forced to adjust the direction of the Heaven-Opening Axe attack, thus buying the Azure Water Sword some buffer time.

"Vajra Talisman, Imperial Edict"

Before the water blade could even land, a golden spherical light had already enveloped it, which was a first-tier mid-grade Vajra Talisman, specializing in defense.

"Bang bang bang"

The Water Blade Slash, which can easily leave a mark a few inches deep on hard bluestone, has no other effect except for occasional shaking and flashes of light when it lands on it.

"Hmph, do you really think you're invincible just because you have a mid-grade first-tier magic weapon? A frog in a well, with such limited vision, dares to claim a fortune of several hundred spirit stones?"

"Second brother, third brother, the prey has run out of tricks. Make your move quickly and finish this quickly to avoid attracting attention."

At the summons of the black-robed cultivator, two other Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators dressed similarly approached rapidly from a hundred feet away.

These two unfamiliar cultivators, one wielding a spear and the other a long sword, surrounded Tong Bingfeng from the left and right, clearly to prevent him from making a hasty escape.

"As expected, and not unexpectedly, robbers usually travel in groups; how could they possibly be alone?"

Upon seeing the other two robbers, Tong Bingfeng, who was at a disadvantage, finally revealed a ruthless look on his face. With a top-grade Thunder Pearl by his side, he naturally wanted to wipe out all the robbers in one fell swoop.

If three Thunder Pearls, worth 150 spirit stones, cannot be exchanged for spoils of sufficient value, wouldn't that be a double loss? As a qualified cultivator, one should not engage in such a wasteful transaction.

"Whoosh, whoosh"

In the blink of an eye, the two late-arriving cultivators, fearing losses due to a failure to intercept in time, surrounded them within the time it takes to drink two cups of tea.

A long spear and a short knife, moving up and down in close coordination, slashed straight at Tong Bingfeng's throat and abdomen with a vicious wind.

These two items are also genuine first-tier mid-grade magic artifacts, but their designs are relatively simple and common, and their prices are slightly lower in the market.

However, they are no less lethal, and the two work together seamlessly. If not dealt with in time, they can cause fatal injuries.

"It is impolite not to reciprocate. Today, let's see how destructive the renowned Thunder Pearl is!"

Tong Bingfeng dodged left and right, barely managing to evade the attacks of the sword and spear. He then sent out two lightning orbs, one of which landed between the two later-arriving Tribulation cultivators, while the other went straight for the first Tribulation cultivator.

The Thunder Pearl, under the influence of the azure magic power within his dantian, immediately shattered the fragile balance, and streams of power unique to thunder could be unleashed at any moment.

"Thunder Pearl, Thunder Pearl"

"Boom, boom!"

The leader of the tribulation cultivators was quite knowledgeable. After scanning the presence of the Thunder Pearl with his divine sense, he was so surprised that he could only shout a warning before his unstoppable momentum came to a halt and he immediately retreated.

Unfortunately, this seemingly swift reaction was ultimately slightly inferior. Once the power of the lightning within the two lightning orbs was no longer suppressed, it erupted instantly.

The three cultivators were instantly annihilated by the rising and falling lightning, with nothing but pitiful screams and no other effective resistance or reaction.

Streaks of lightning as thick as an arm rose and fell, transforming into lightning snakes that tightly coiled around the bodies of the three cultivators. Soon, plumes of black smoke, carrying a burnt smell, rose from above their heads.

Under the corrosive influence of the lightning, its entire body rapidly changed from its original rosy complexion to a lifeless, pitch-black color, before collapsing stiffly to the ground.

"The Thunder Pearl truly lives up to its reputation. Using a top-grade first-tier Thunder Pearl to kill three mid-stage Qi Refining Tribulation cultivators is indeed overkill."

Looking at the three corpses, Tong Bingfeng felt no joy as expected, but rather heartache over the loss of the Thunder Pearl.

Of course, given that the incident had already occurred, such negative emotions were destined not to last long. After banishing them, Tong Bingfeng turned his attention to the three dark corpses.

"Murder and arson bring wealth and honor. As a thief cultivator, one lives by robbery. Judging from the cooperation of these three today, they must have committed many evil deeds in the past. Hopefully, the spoils will match their crimes."

Tong Bingfeng muttered to himself, looked around, and after confirming that there were no other cultivators within a hundred feet, he ignored the repulsive aura emanating from the dark corpse and quickly moved forward to take the storage bag hanging from the waist of the cultivator.